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It’s the month of June, a month after most of our favorite TV shows have taken a bow for the season. As expected, most networks have rolled out announcements for shows that will an won’t be returning to our screens (that’s a topic for another time). Today, Rinzy will be listing TV shows that gave him excitement week after week, shows that caused him inability to sleep because of anticipation. This is Rinzy’s review for best shows of the TV season 2016/2017.

Arrow (S5)

Oh! Ohh! Ooooh! My sweet sweet Arrow. Who would have every thought it was possible for a show that has lot its way for two seasons to get back on track? Definitely not me. But with the miracle of this season, I’ve learnt that nothing is impossible with regards to this.

Behind every Hero there must be a more awesome Villain. Arrow’s fifth season buttressed that point. Since the time of Slade Wilson, Arrow hasn’t received much in terms of villain’s development, until now. Prometheus is his name, the man who gave Arrow a new breath of fresh life. I enjoyed every little detail of this season, every episode. Prometheus was so good and the effects of his existence so awesome that he committee suicide to drive home his point.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (S4)

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been one of the most consistent shows on TV today. Since its sophomore year, AoS has consistently upped its game in a way that’ll easily make some low budget SciFi movie go to bed in shame. This year, they did it again: Bigger and Better they call it, and its because the show’s producers did their homework well with the three ppd story formula (and also because of The Ghostrider). No hard guesses why AoS is easily one of my favorites this year. It’s a pity that the long future of this show is in doubts because of ratings; I keep wondering why same people invest so much time in insane shows. Don’t answer that: I know why.

Feud

Anything with Jessica Lange is Okay by me. Yes! Then, through in Susan Saradon and a host of others jn a shpw self titled ‘Feud’, amd you’ve got me hooked for 8 weeks. Feud was easily one of my best choice for 2017: A time-period show based on the constant friction between two household actresses of the 20’s. Who wouldn’t love that?

Legion (S1)

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For as far back my memories go, I’ve been a fan of all things Xmen. I grew up loving them. But for some reason, I couldn’t keep up with Legion when it originally aired in Febrary. I recently tried it again, and gbam! Awesome. This show is arguably one of my favorite this year. Thankfully, it’s returning for another round of adventure with The Shadow King.

After teasing its production and order to series for several months, The CW finally released the first trailer for the new series yesterday. Click here to watch it.

From the trailer, the man we’ll come to know as the titular hero agreed to drop the mantle of hero for a simple life as a Principal for the love of his daughters and wife. But as things get worse in the community he picks up the mantle once again to set things right. It all sounds simple until reasons for his change of heart are been factored in, of which I can boldly say will have to do with the safety of his daughters.

Black Lightening as played by Cress William

This fall just got a whole lot more interesting on The CW. Though rumors now claim this show will exist independently of the other DC CW properties, but time ill tell for how long.

I had to bring myself to a place of sanity and emotional indifference before typing this. This is a review for The Vampire Diaries season finale (TVD S08 E 16); whatever providential power there be knows my heart is as heavy as it can be.

Let’s get started, we have a lot to cover.

The episode picked up from where the last one ended. Bonnie’s in a dream-like transient between dead and alive; there she sees Elena lying on a well decorated bed. Elena soon awakes, her happiness soon turns sour when she recognizes her friend wasn’t yet old and from Kai’s spell could only be here if she was dead. Stefan’s CPR on her physical seemed to work as Enzo appears and drags Elena back to life. Damon and Stefan return home to find Elena resurrected; only that isn’t Elena… Katherine! The evil doppelganger still loves to toy with the boys psych especially Damon’s, what better way to do that if not by playing cross-dressing? It didn’t take Damon long to figure it realize it but then she had already achieved her purpose of taking the joy out of the moment.

Katherine as a resurrected Elena

What did Katherine want?

Simple. She just wanted to see the whole of Mystic Falls burn with everyone in it. Katherine confessed to have been the one pulling the Devil’s string because of how awesome she was, that was the reason he was so invested in claiming the Salvatores soul for himself. As Katherine put it, “he wanted you because I did.” A line of Katherine I loved was when the Salvatore boys inquired the where-about of Elena’s body and she replied “that’s for me to know, and for you to dot dot dot.”

The Donovans (or The Maxwells, whichever) have had an important story-line this season after seasons of neglect. Vicki who returned last episode couldn’t stop ringing the bell not just because Katherine told her to do so at an interval of 5 minutes to prolong the heroes miseries, but because she was frustrated of the empty tortures of Hell; the place of fiery fire was so frustrating that she didn’t care about burning everyone and everything so she could be liberated into non-existence by Hell’s fire, not even her brother Matty-blue eyes or her father whom she clearly missed after 15 years could talk her out of it. They had a teary reunion but that was all to it – a reunion.

The Donovans reunite

Being the Queen of Hell meant Katherine could keep returning to earth even as Damon continually killed her, thanks to Matt Donovan opening the door between Earth and Hell when he rang the bell earlier in the season. The effect of her short presence was felt almost immediately; it’s Katherine we’re talking about here, nothing less was expected. When Damon accused her motive of being out of jealousy (which we all know), because he and Stefan would choose Elena over her any day anytime, she replies almost instantaneously, that Elena would still choose Stefan over him any day anytime, and not just Elena, she also, and any other random woman who hasn’t had history with the Salvatores, simply because Stefan was the better man. Even after all these time Katherine still knows the exact thing to say to get under Damon’s skin. Though Damon takes his insecurity easier this time, he kills her again.

Katherine taunts Damon

Caroline who just got married few hours ago was made to leave her husband when Sheriff Donovan declares a gas leak and immediate evacuation of Mystic Falls. Alaric causes her to choose between her children and the love of her life, “I don’t need to remind you what it feels like to stay without a mother,” he said. Stefan makes it easier for Caroline, by convincing her he can’t leave without Damon his brother who can’t leave because Elena’s body’s was spelled to the boiler room of the Salvatore mansion by Kai (for Katherine).

Elena lifeless body in the boiler room

Bonnie figures out how to save the day. The Salvatores love for each other might be the heart of the series and Elena the bind that holds all together, but it is Bonnie who been its strength over its reign for 8 seasons; without her magic they’d have bee =n screwed long time ago. She’s always the one to come up with a plan, to make the difficult choice and most selfless sacrifice, this time was no different. She had a plan to defeat Katherine and take down Hell permanently by re-channeling its flames back into it, with Katherine inside when it happens. This’ where the episode gets tricky, as Bonnie confessed to Stefan.

Stefan, over the course of the series has been a constant hero of the series. His character arc has been the most consistent and he’s always stayed true to his role as hero – except when on Ripper duties. Remember the theory of the cure, how the it works? Good. Stefan used that mythology to the fullest ,and made the ultimate sacrifice, this time, not so that his brother could find redemption, but so that he could get to share his new found light with his one true love. I am sure I’m not the only one who’s thought their brotherly love to be somewhat gay, but well.

Damon and Stefan

Damon failed to realize his brother wouldn’t move about as a human without vervain in his system. After failing to properly compel Stefan to give up the thought of being the martyr to hold Katherine in Hell, Stefan who had removed the cure from his blood injected it into Damon and turned his brother human, correcting the greatest mistake of his long life, turning his brother into a Vampire. Now vainly-human, it’s only a matter of time before his long life starts to catch up to him, so Stefan sacrifices himself to commit suicide with Katherine inside Hell’s fire. After he narrates all these to Elena, he walks out of the door and sees Lexi waiting for him to drive off to their implied peace.

Lexi in Stefan’s peace land

Bonnie showed the most of her magic which has been latent all season in one of the most visually stunning sequence since the beginning of the series. After Vicki launched Hell’s fire, Bonnie, with the help of the Witches of the Bennett bloodline redirect the flames back into Hell. I shouted for joy when I saw Grams (it’s always a delight seeing her), and when I saw Lucy and some other recognizable faces of Bennetts over TVD’s 8 seasons I couldn’t help but hail the Producers resolve to give us a befitting series finale.

The Bennett Witches

After his death, Stefan found Elena (the technicality of this is messed up), and he narrates to her how he died – saving Damon so that she could meet him the new person he had become; the new him which was the same as the pre-vampire him. I believe Stefan knew of Bonnie’s plan to wake Elena up, this must have facilitated his resolve to give Damon the cure and sacrifice himself in the process, selflessly, without a care for his own happiness with Caroline.

Caroline and Damon say their goodbyes to Stefan at his grave site. On leaving they meet Elena at the exit and everyone reunites in tears of joy. Damon and Elena have the hug and share their kiss of passion. The trio whose friendship lived over the course of the 8 seasons talk a little about their lives, and Stefan’s message to Caroline.

Stefan’s grave

Matt got rewarded for his duties as Sheriff with a bench to his honor, and he is considering running for Mayor of Mystic Falls which is a big step for a character that started out as a busboy at the infamous Mystic Grills.

Vicki and Tyler find peace.

Bonnie finally decides to live her life to the fullest, honoring Enzo by travelling all around the world. Caroline and Alaric set up a school for gifted children, even Klaus makes an appearance in writing by donating $3,000,000 for the upkeep of the school. A lot of old characters make appearances here, Jeremy, Sheriff Liz, Jo, Klaroline, etc.

Damon and Elena get married at last, sealing Delena as the endgame

Damon and Elena got to live a long life with all the shenanigans of life, and died with each finding peace. In the case of Elena peace meant been reunited with her deceased family members – Aunt Jenna, her Mom, Dad, and Uncle John. For Damon it meant being reunited with Stefan, with Damon reciting the last sentence of the series, “Hello brother.”

Over the years TVD has been a great companion to me, with intriguing story-lines and a cast of mostly unknown actors who excelled at their characters they kept me spell bound for the 6 years since I started following it in 2011. I had always dreaded what my life would be like without TVD, and that’s where I am now. I know the pain will go away, but I can’t help but wonder how fast. Most people think pain comes only from persons lost, but I say it comes from the loss of loved ones, and a loved one can be anything, even a TV show. Hearty cheers to TVD, for a life well spent, for keeping me and millions around the world happy and entertained episode after episode, week after week, season after seasons. I wish the cast and crew success in future endeavors. RIP TVD, TVD Forever!

After a climatic fifth season with the Dread Doctors and The Beast of Gervude, Teen Wolf returned to our scream last November, for the first half of its sixth and final season.

Teen Wolf’s producers wasted no time in introducing us to the villains of the season – The Ghost Riders of the Wild Hunt – within the first seven minutes of the season, and we had a lot to chew all through the rest of the half-season story-line.

I particularly liked the way the season started; Hayden and Liam are running in the woods, and suddenly notice the sky has green linings. They also see a car driving itself there way. On examination they find a young boy, Alex, hiding at the back-seat, he said, ‘Don’t let them take me. Don’t let them take me too,’ referencing his parents who had already been kidnapped by the mysterious villain. Further investigation into the head of the only surviving son, by Scott, showed that his parents were taken by a mysterious, tall, mouth-less male figure, cloth in black cowboy-like attire, and riding a dark-horse.

The story carried on with the pack figuring out that The Ghost-Riders take people, and when they’re taken, those they leave behind forget everything about them. Stiles found himself taken, and the rest of the season follows the different things that happens for the pack to remember that someone like Stiles once existed in their lives. During this story we got something that had been teased since the first season of this show – Stiles and Lydia. I think this is where I’ll start my review of the season from.

1. Stiles and Lydia’s kiss.
Rinzy’s rating: 3/5.
After being teased for six years, Stydia (portmanteau for Stiles and Lydia) finally happened. Everyone who’s been following this show since its first season knows that Stiles has always been obsessed with Lydia, who never really cared about him until she became invested in the world of the supernatural. They shared a brief kiss in season , but Lydia claimed it was to help stop Stiles’ panic. In as much as Stydia happening is for fan-service, I’ll like to see what they do with it in the final ten episodes of the series.

2. The Ghost-Riders
Rinzy’s rating: 3.5/5
What’s a good story without a memorable villain?
The Ghost-Riders, though captivating in their first few scenes, soon became a bore, and chore to watch. In typical Teen Wolf stile, where the vast majority of their villains do not speak (remember The Onis, The Beserkers, The Dread Doctors?) the Ghost-riders are no exception. I for one, have always loved as Teen Wolf is able to constantly re-brand itself , season after season, giving me the chance to appreciate new story-lines.

3. The Nazi Wolf
Rinzy’s rating: 3/5
Probably to make the story appear full circle and connected, Teen Wolf’s producers thought it best to bring in the mysterious creature in the Dread Doctor’s lair in season 5 into this story-line. And they also thought it best to make him a teacher in Beacon High (I’ve lost count of how many of their teachers have gone rogue.) I didn’t really enjoy it. I thought his motivation for wanting to join the world of the Ghost-Riders and Beacon Hills together as weak and uninspiring.
4. Coach
Rinzy’s rating: 4/5
Every scene with this man is pure bliss. Though not in any way furthering the plot, Scott’s lacrosse coach’s appearance has always been a welcome comic relief. He wasn’t around for long, but his appearance was very much appreciated.

5. Stiles
Rinzy rating: 3.5/5
Maybe Dylan O’Brien is becoming too busy, that’s why this season we had too little Stilinski, and that isn’t good. Stiles has always been the heart of this show, and it would be good to always have him around going forward in the last stretch of the series.

6. Parish Hell-Hound
Rinzy’s rating: 2/5
The Parish is being utilized on this show hurts me, because this is a character that has so much potential. Though the producers did a non-existent job in explaining why the Ghost-Riders were able to control him in Hell-Hound mode, every scene with him was a delight to behold.

Over all, the season was a decent one. I’d like to see how the series concludes a lot of hanging threads of story-lines, Theo’s redemption, Malia’s mother/desert wolf, the new Argent and McCall lovers, Stydia, Derek, Issac, and Pa Gerard’s whereabouts, etc.
Though not my best season (in terms of story-lines) it certainly isn’t my worst.